Jota was noticed within the stands watching Celtic draw 2-2 with Italian giants AC Milan of their ultimate pre-season pleasant at Parkhead on Saturday.
The Portuguese ahead has been out of motion since sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament harm in April 2025 and is predicted to return to coaching within the coming weeks with the intention of returning to the pitch this season.
It stays to be seen when Jota will have the ability to begin for Martin O’Neill within the Scottish Premiership, however the Hoops proceed to search for attacking reinforcements.
They agreed a deal value greater than £11m to signal Kasper Sizzling from Bodo/Glimt and agreed private phrases with Actual Oviedo winger Haisem Hassan, value round £7.7m.
What is going to occur to Celtic’s assault after signing Ho?
The Scottish giants have already signed £6m striker Camilo Duran, so it is going to be fascinating to see how O’Neill decides to arrange Celtic’s squad for the 2026/27 season.
The Colombian ahead has scored three targets in three pre-season matches for the Hoops since becoming a member of from Qarabag, and is a flexible attacker who has performed on the proper and left flank throughout his membership profession.
Celtic may due to this fact select to make use of Ho, a conventional centre-forward, as their principal participant within the quantity 9 place, whereas Hassan may are available in as an possibility on the proper, chopping in along with his left foot to make issues occur on the high finish of the pitch.
Duran and the Bodø/Glimt attacker have been notable of their respective groups’ Champions League appearances final season, every scoring 5 targets within the competitors, and will type an thrilling rotation within the No. 9 function.
Gamers who scored 5 targets within the Champions League within the 25/26 season | |
|---|---|
participant | the purpose |
michael orise | 5 |
Dominik Szoboszlai | 5 |
Want Due | 5 |
Gorka Gurzeta | 5 |
Vinicius Junior | 5 |
casper hogg | 5 |
marcus rashford | 5 |
Luis Suarez | 5 |
Camilo Duran | 5 |
Folarin Balogun | 5 |
Victor Gokeres | 5 |
Duran can play in positions aside from striker, however his pure place isn’t on the left, so there’s nonetheless a beginning spot on the left, with Ho and Hassan prone to begin within the different two roles.
Why Celtic have to signal a £13m star after Hogg and Hassan
Jota may fill the left-wing place if he ultimately returns to competitors, however the membership are additionally trying to signal a participant who could possibly be the following model of the Portuguese ace.
The West Ham Means’s ExWhuEmployee has revealed that Celtic are making ready to maneuver forward of West Ham United within the race to signal Lazio striker Matteo Cancellieri.
Sources say the Hammers are eyeing a transfer for the Italy worldwide to strengthen their assault forward of the Championship, whereas the Hoops intention to additional enhance their curiosity within the versatile winger.
Cancellieri has one yr left on his contract with the Italian facet and former experiences prompt a switch payment of round £13m could possibly be required to safe his availability.
Supporters might marvel what sort of affect Jota could make at Parkhead given the truth that he scored simply 4 targets in 35 appearances for Lazio as a winger final season, however they solely want to take a look at Jota’s profession to see his path to success in Glasgow.
The Portuguese attacker scored simply two targets in 34 first-team video games for Benfica earlier than transferring to Celtic below supervisor Ange Postecoglou, however the Hoops helped him notice his potential after impressing at youth degree.
Jota’s path to success at Celtic | ||
|---|---|---|
workforce | Look | Aim + Help |
celtic | 99 | 33+28 |
Benfica | 34 | 2+3 |
Benfica B | 48 | 9+8 |
Benfica U19 | 17 | 4+8 |
That might additionally apply to Cancellieri if he joins the Scottish giants this summer time. It’s because he was a prolific goalscorer at youth degree earlier than breaking into the primary workforce.
The one-capped Italy worldwide has solely scored 12 targets and offered 5 assists in 125 video games in Serie A, however has scored 19 targets in 23 video games for Roma’s Beneath-17s and 17 targets in 23 video games for Hellas Verona’s reserve workforce.
Cancellieri, who can play on the left or proper, may turn out to be a serious goalscoring menace if he will help Celtic switch his youth type into the primary workforce, very similar to they did when signing Jota from Benfica.
The 24-year-old attacker might not appear to be a marquee signing on paper after his underwhelming type at Lazio, however he has the potential to emerge because the membership’s subsequent model of Jota, maybe finishing O’Neill’s entrance three alongside Ho and Hassan.
That could possibly be why the Hoops need to signal him this summer time. They consider there’s scope for him to supply greater than he did within the Serie A facet final season.
